Tips for helping your child to read...
THE 5 FINGER RULE
1. Choose a book.
2. Find a page somewhere in the middle of the book with lots of text and few
or no pictures.
3. Have your child begin to read the page.
4. Each time they come to a word they don't know, hold up one finger.
5. If you have all 5 fingers up before they get to the end of the page, wave
the book so long. It is probably too difficult for them right now. Try again
at another time. If you have no fingers up when they finish the page, then
the book may be too easy. If you have less than five fingers up but no more
than one or two fingers up when they finish reading the page, the book may be
just right.
INSTRUCTIONAL LEVEL
* needs some help from parent or teacher
* accuracy in reading is 90-95%
* minimal or no anxiety
* useful to mix some at this level
INDEPENDENT LEVEL
* reads well without help
* accuracy in reading words smoothly and correctly without finger pointing
should be close to 100%
* after oral or silent reading, 90% of comprehension questions about the
passage or book should be answered correctly
FRUSTRATION LEVEL
* tense, worried by word struggle
* no fluency or expression evident
* child is unable to answer comprehension questions
READING ACCURATELY
If your child encounters a word they do not know, count to three in your head.
Then say, "What might you try? What word would make sense? Look at the
first letter and make the sound for that letter?" If your child does not
recognize the word after this, tell them what the word is and have them
confirm that they see this word.
HOW CAN I ENCOURAGE READING WITH MY CHILD?
* model reading 20 minutes each day
* make going to the library a fun visit weekly
* combine independent and reading together
* encourage your child to read things around the house, around town, etc
* praise your child
* make reading fun-choose fun books
THE 5 FINGER RULE
1. Choose a book.
2. Find a page somewhere in the middle of the book with lots of text and few
or no pictures.
3. Have your child begin to read the page.
4. Each time they come to a word they don't know, hold up one finger.
5. If you have all 5 fingers up before they get to the end of the page, wave
the book so long. It is probably too difficult for them right now. Try again
at another time. If you have no fingers up when they finish the page, then
the book may be too easy. If you have less than five fingers up but no more
than one or two fingers up when they finish reading the page, the book may be
just right.
INSTRUCTIONAL LEVEL
* needs some help from parent or teacher
* accuracy in reading is 90-95%
* minimal or no anxiety
* useful to mix some at this level
INDEPENDENT LEVEL
* reads well without help
* accuracy in reading words smoothly and correctly without finger pointing
should be close to 100%
* after oral or silent reading, 90% of comprehension questions about the
passage or book should be answered correctly
FRUSTRATION LEVEL
* tense, worried by word struggle
* no fluency or expression evident
* child is unable to answer comprehension questions
READING ACCURATELY
If your child encounters a word they do not know, count to three in your head.
Then say, "What might you try? What word would make sense? Look at the
first letter and make the sound for that letter?" If your child does not
recognize the word after this, tell them what the word is and have them
confirm that they see this word.
HOW CAN I ENCOURAGE READING WITH MY CHILD?
* model reading 20 minutes each day
* make going to the library a fun visit weekly
* combine independent and reading together
* encourage your child to read things around the house, around town, etc
* praise your child
* make reading fun-choose fun books